The Miami Herald
Jul. 11, 2002

Colombian president calls for more soldiers

  BOGOTA - (AP) -- President Andrés Pastrana announced Wednesday that he wants to spend $100 million for an additional 10,000 soldiers to protect
  local government officials against growing threats from rebels.

  Pastrana's announcement came a day after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, issued a statement saying its death threat applies to
  all mayors and state governors who don't resign.

  The group had previously threatened more than 100 mayors and hundreds of other city officials over the last month, but had never issued a nationwide
  warning to all officials.

  The FARC statement claimed that Pastrana's government has forced governors and mayors to carry out its policies. It specifically mentioned Plan
  Colombia, the U.S.-backed effort to eliminate drug trafficking here.

  The rebels have long criticized Plan Colombia as a thinly veiled attempt by the United States to intervene in Colombia's internal affairs.

  It said it was targeting the officials ''not because of who they are as people, but because they represent the government'' and demanded that ''all state,
  city and local government leaders'' resign.

  The government has already offered mayors protection, and even allowed some to work from within military bases. Dozens of officials have resigned, and
  several city halls have closed, though it is doubtful the FARC could carry out its threats all over the country. Since the mayors first began receiving threats
  from the FARC a month ago, one mayor has been killed and two others kidnapped.

  Late Tuesday, one person was killed and four injured when a bomb exploded in the doorway of the City Hall in Miranda, 160 miles southwest of Bogotá,
  in the state of Cauca.

  José Julio Tovar, a Cauca state official, said the mayor was not injured. Tovar could not confirm reports that the bomb was set off by the FARC.

  The FARC controls vast regions in Colombia, but rival paramilitary groups control other areas and have reportedly offered protection to some officials.